⁴³ The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile:

² The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.

²³ May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.”

²⁴ They replied, “We did it because we—your servants—were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this. ²⁵ Now we are at your mercy—do to us whatever you think is right.”

²⁶ So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. ²⁷ But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord—wherever the Lord would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.

² “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate someone to the Lord by paying the value of that person, ³ here is the scale of values to be used. A man between the ages of twenty and sixty is valued at fifty shekels^[a] of silver, as measured by the sanctuary shekel. ⁴ A woman of that age is valued at thirty shekels^[b] of silver. ⁵ A boy between the ages of five and twenty is valued at twenty shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at ten shekels^[c] of silver. ⁶ A boy between the ages of one month and five years is valued at five shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at three shekels^[d] of silver. ⁷ A man older than sixty is valued at fifteen shekels of silver; a woman of that age is valued at ten shekels^[e] of silver. ⁸ If you desire to make such a vow but cannot afford to pay the required amount, take the person to the priest. He will determine the amount for you to pay based on what you can afford.